Chronic Exposure to High Fat Diet Affects the Synaptic Transmission That Regulates the Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens of Adolescent Male Rats.

Obesity is a pandemic caused by many factors, including a chronic excess in hypercaloric and high-palatable food intake. In addition, the global prevalence of obesity has increased in all age categories, such as children, adolescents, and adults. However, at the neurobiological level, how neural circuits regulate the hedonic consumption of food intake and how the reward circuit is modified under hypercaloric diet consumption are still being unraveled. We aimed to determine the molecular and functional changes of dopaminergic and glutamatergic modulation of nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in male rats exposed to chronic consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a chow diet or HFD from postnatal day (PND) 21 to 62, increasing obesity markers. In addition, in HFD rats, the frequency but not amplitude of the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current is increased in NAcc medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Moreover, only MSNs expressing dopamine (DA) receptor type 2 (D2) increase the amplitude and glutamate release in response to amphetamine, downregulating the indirect pathway. Furthermore, NAcc gene expression of inflammasome components is increased by chronic exposure to HFD. At the neurochemical level, DOPAC content and tonic dopamine (DA) release are reduced in NAcc, while phasic DA release is increased in HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, our model of childhood and adolescent obesity functionally affects the NAcc, a brain nucleus involved in the hedonic control of feeding, which might trigger addictive-like behaviors for obesogenic foods and, through positive feedback, maintain the obese phenotype.

The neuroanatomy of Zulmasuchus querejazus (Crocodylomorpha, Sebecidae) and its implications for the paleoecology of sebecosuchians.

The endocranial structures of the sebecid crocodylomorph Zulmasuchus querejazus (MHNC 6672) from the Lower Paleocene of Bolivia are described in this article. Using computed tomography scanning, the cranial endocast, associated nerves and arteries, endosseous labyrinths, and cranial pneumatization are reconstructed and compared with those of extant and fossil crocodylomorphs, representative of different ecomorphological adaptations. Z. querejazus exhibits an unusual flexure of the brain, pericerebral spines, semicircular canals with a narrow diameter, as well as enlarged pharyngotympanic sinuses. First, those structures allow to estimate the alert head posture and hearing capabilities of Zulmasuchus. Then, functional comparisons are proposed between this purportedly terrestrial taxon, semi-aquatic, and aquatic forms (extant crocodylians, thalattosuchians, and dyrosaurids). The narrow diameter of the semicircular canals but expanded morphology of the endosseous labyrinths and the enlarged pneumatization of the skull compared to other forms indeed tend to indicate a terrestrial lifestyle for Zulmasuchus. Our results highlight the need to gather new data, especially from altirostral forms in order to further our understanding of the evolution of endocranial structures in crocodylomorphs with different ecomorphological adaptations.

Utility of the Glabellar Flap in the Reconstruction of Medial Canthal Tumors after Mohs Surgery

The goals of periorbital region reconstruction are to obtain both functional and esthetic results. Medial canthus is the second most common periorbital location for basal cell carcinoma. If left untreated, it is locally destructive but rarely metastasizes. Incompletely resected medial canthal tumors recur or penetrate along the lacrimal path and expand to wider lesions. A safety margin is necessary to ensure a complete lesion resection. Since it was introduced in 1941, Mohs surgery has been promoted as an efficient method of dealing with infiltrative periorbital skin tumors. It has been shown to have high rates of complete cancer removal during surgery, minimizing the amount of normal tissue loss and securing better functional and cosmetic outcomes. Due to its concave contour and convergence of skin units with variable thickness, texture and mobility, reconstruction of the medial canthal region (MCR) remains challenging. Reconstructive methods such as free full-thickness skin grafts and glabellar flaps have been used alone or in combination with other techniques. The concavity of the canthus must be achieved, but the maintenance of the normal contour and symmetry of the surrounding tissue is critical. The glabellar flap (GF) is a triangular advancement flap that adequately restores the volume in deeper defects, guaranteeing sufficient vascular support without complex or undesirable scars. We present two cases of basal cell carcinoma affecting the MCR that was successfully reconstructed using a GF alone in one case and together with a cheek advancement flap in the second one. In both cases, tumor excision was performed using Mohs surgery.

A new snake skull from the Paleocene of Bolivia sheds light on the evolution of macrostomatans.

Macrostomatan snakes, one of the most diverse extant clades of squamates, display an impressive arsenal of cranial features to consume a vast array of preys. In the absence of indisputable fossil representatives of this clade with well-preserved skulls, the mode and timing of these extraordinary morphological novelties remain obscure. Here, we report the discovery of Kataria anisodonta n. gen. n. sp., a macrostomatan snake recovered in the Early Palaeocene locality of Tiupampa, Bolivia. The holotype consists of a partial, minute skull that exhibits a combination of booid and caenophidian characters, being the presence of an anisodont dentition and diastema in the maxilla the most distinctive trait. Phylogenetic analysis places Kataria basal to the Caenophidia+Tropidophiidae, and represents along with bolyeriids a distinctive clade of derived macrostomatans. The discovery of Kataria highlights the morphological diversity in the maxilla among derived macrostomatans, demonstrating the relevance of maxillary transformations in the evolution of this clade. Kataria represents the oldest macrostomatan skull recovered, revealing that the diversification of macrostomatans was well under way in early Tertiary times. This record also reinforces the importance of Gondwanan territories in the history of snakes, not only in the origin of the entire group but also in the evolution of ingroup clades.

The tail of the Ordovician fish Sacabambaspis.

The tail of the earliest known articulated fully skeletonized vertebrate, the arandaspid Sacabambaspis from the Ordovician of Bolivia, is redescribed on the basis of further preparation of the only specimen in which it is most extensively preserved. The first, but soon discarded, reconstruction, which assumed the presence of a long horizontal notochordal lobe separating equal sized dorsal and ventral fin webs, appears to have considerable merit. Although the ventral web is significantly smaller than the dorsal one, the presence of a very long notochordal lobe bearing a small terminal web is confirmed. The discrepancy in the size of the ventral and dorsal webs rather suggests that the tail was hypocercal, a condition that would better accord with the caudal morphology of the living agnathans and the other jawless stem gnathostomes.

Plan departamental de salud ambiental Cochabamba 2005-2009 / Es

Impulsar el programa de Salud Ambiental para mejorar la calidad de vida de la población a través de la realización de acciones integrales con los municipios, que coadyuven en la preservación del medio ambiente y a la promoción de la salud en la población. Fortalecer a las instituciones para un mayor control de las importaciones, comercializaciones, expendio, uso, manejo y aplicación de plaguicidas. Garantizar la seguridad alimentaria a través de la participación y compromiso Interinstitucional, Intersectorial y ciudadana en el Departamento de Cochabamba

Kraft mill residues effects on Monterey pine growth and soil microbial activity.

The production of bleached Kraft pulp generates inorganic and organic residues that are usually deposited on the soil surface or land-filled. Studies conducted to address the impact of these wastes on the environment are scarce. In this work, Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don), an important tree for pulping, was evaluated for germination and development under greenhouse conditions in forest soils exposed to solid residues of the cellulose industry using the Kraft process. Soils exposed to 10 to 60% ashes, 10 to 70% fly ashes, or 10 to 30% dregs allowed substantial seed germination and seedling growth. In contrast, soils exposed to low proportions of brown rejects, grits, or a mixture of all these residues were detrimental for germination, plant growth, or both. The strongest negative effect (no germination) was observed with as low as 10% grits. The changes in pH and/or water content caused by solid wastes did not correlate with detrimental effects observed in various soil-residue combinations. No significant changes in the microbial community of soils exposed to these solid residues were observed by determination of culturable counts, or by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the microbial community DNA. The presence of organic residues did not affect the ability of the soil microbial community to remove typical pulp bleaching chloroaromatics. However, inorganic wastes strongly decreased the removal of such compounds.

QUALIFICAÇÃO DA ATENÇÃO AOS HIPERTENSOS CADASTRADOS EM UMA ETRATÉGIA DE SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA DO INTERIOR DE GO

Um estudo de corte intervencionista na HTA foi realizado com um grupo de hipertensos da ESF 05, correspondente ao município de Santo Antônio do Descoberto de Goiás. Em que de um total de 203 pacientes hipertensos, foi selecionada uma amostra de 25 para 12,3% do total, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência exercida de um programa de intervenção educativa em esta população, na prevenção do risco, de complicações e melhorando a sua qualidade de vida, aplicando técnicas de observação e análises de cada participante para obter uma visão inicial do conhecimento deles sobre a questão da saúde , seguidas de um programa de intervenção educativa, onde foram utilizadas técnicas de dinâmica de grupo, exercícios, palestras, consultas especializadas, a análise de conteúdo, avaliação , integração e encerramento. Os resultados mostraram que os pacientes antes da intervenção tenham ignorância elevada da doença de base, e muitos conceitos errados e míticas, mas depois, ao finalizar o PI vimos uma melhoria significativa, tanto a nível de conhecimento, como a aplicação adequada na adoção de estilos de vida saudáveis, cumprimento regular e estável dos tratamentos impostos, com consequente melhora da qualidade de vida e ótima preparação para evitar os riscos e as complicações.